His words were carried by the silence of the entire Colosseum, reaching the ears of the challengers in the arena, passing the audience of the rich and wealthy, and stretching upward until they reached the Sea Deity itself, stunning all that heard them.

Even Drake, who was a Marked just like Steven, despite not knowing the full consequences of challenging the Champion of the horrid Colosseum, understood the brutality it carried from the little whispers he had heard back in the Hellish Prison. The weight of those rumors pressed heavily on his mind, forcing him to rub at his temples as a deep feeling of dread washed over him.

"Oh dear God. What have I gotten myself into," Drake swallowed hard, his eyes instinctively trailing upward toward the elevated compartment where the Sea Deity and the elders of the Fated Colosseum sat, looming over everything like indifferent judges.

At first, they remained silent, allowing the moment of shock to seep into every corner of the Colosseum. When it finally settled, a thunderous, hoarse laughter erupted, echoing across the entire structure, so loud and violent it could have easily surpassed the full brunt of cheers ever heard within the arena.

The source of the laughter was the obese Sea God, swaying heavily atop a throbbing wooden chair that visibly struggled to bear its immense weight, creaking under the strain.

Steven watched the monstrous, irritating figure laugh continuously again and again, forcing each burst of laughter like a form of auditory torture into his ears. The sound scraped against his nerves, making his jaw tighten.

Soon enough, it stopped.

Ark’shaRin wiped away the tears from its dark, beady eyes, its bloated gaze settling on Steven as though he were a disgusting rat; one it wished had been crushed beneath its heel years ago. When Steven studied Ark’shaRin’s countenance more closely, he found not amusement, but rather pure disdain and deep-rooted hatred directed at the body he inhabited.

For some reason he did not understand and probably a reason hidden even from Rat himself this Sea Deity hated him.

"Very well," Ark’shaRin pronounced, its voice gurgling, muffled and wet, yet powerful enough to be heard throughout the Colosseum. Its resentful eyes finally left Steven and shifted toward the others, easily reading the tension carved into their stiff expressions.

"Is there any other person that wishes to join the challenger?"

The question hung heavily in the air, unanswered.

Many of the prisoners were terrified, others outright frozen, unable to fathom what the King Beast would truly look like. Battling regular Shadow Eaters alone was already a living nightmare, let alone something far more demonic. A monster so outrageous that every challenger who ever survived it came back broken, only to whisper fragmented tales of its existence.

No, they stood no chance.

So why should they even participate? Why risk their lives over a foolish challenge a skinny brat had pulled out of nowhere?

From their perspective, Steven was visibly more malnourished compared to them. He looked like a walking corpse already. Dead before the battle even began. So why the hell should they risk their lives for him?

Drake, on the other hand, remained unreadable. His blank expression stood unwavering as the choice weighed before him. He kept his eyes fixed on Steven, who did not spare him even a glance. After several seconds of contemplation, Drake raised his hand high without hesitation.

At this Steven’s lips curled slightly at the sight.

’Compared to me, this bastard is even braver. No hesitation to follow a mad man down his path.’

Steven was amused.

After Drake, no one else raised their hand.

Seeing this, Ark’shaRin opened its mouth slightly, a thin, green tongue stretching outward to lick its lips in clear excitement.

"In that case, both of you, come receive the blessing of your god."

As it spoke, a portion of the Colosseum wall began to shift and open, stone grinding against stone as a passageway revealed itself, leading to a place unknown, dark and foreboding, beckoning Steven and Drake forward.

The two hesitated briefly, the same thought forming in both of their minds.

What if this was a trap meant to erase them quietly?

But Steven, upon hearing a familiar chime from his system, felt reassured and stepped forward toward the opening without looking back.

Drake stared at him for a moment longer before following, the same hardened resolve burning in his eyes.

Steven wasn’t sure whether Drake trusted him enough to follow so confidently, or if he had simply grown desperate enough to accept whatever fate was thrown his way. Either way, Steven found the loyalty oddly appealing.

Glancing back at his system, he reread the notification hovering before him.

{Blessing of the Sea God: A blessing instilled by Ark’shaRin himself for any who challenges his Champion. The blessing consists of a potent portion of his flesh, gifted to strengthen and empower the warrior twofold—granting them a chance to overcome the Fated Colosseum’s Champion.}

Steven sighed at the explanation, his eyes lingering on the part that failed to clarify what kind of chance it truly offered, whether it was a slim hope or something far more substantial. Which he doubted.

As the two drew nearer to the exit beyond the arena, Drake finally spoke, voicing his concern.

"I hope you know what you are doing, and won’t get us killed."

{Your sponsor is expressing worry for your mental state and decision making}

Steven sighed at the message and casually patted the hilt of his dagger, replaying his plan once more in his head.

"Hopefully not."

And with that, the two stepped into the dark, devouring depths of the passageway, the arena sealing behind them as if swallowing them whole.